Ngassa-2 Oil Discovery

RNS Number : 1925Z

Tullow Oil PLC

17 September 2009

 



News Release 

Oil discovery in the Ngassa-2 exploration well in Uganda 

17 September 2009 - Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) announces that the Ngassa-2 exploration well, which is located in the Kaiso-Tonya region of Block 2, has encountered 7 metres of oil pay in a 14 metre gross sand. Pressure data acquired through logging operations indicates the potential for a significant oil column down-dip, which could fill the entire 150 sq km closure. Although evaluation is still at an early stage, with further appraisal drilling, Ngassa has the potential to be the largest oil field in the basin to date.

Ngassa-2 is a deviated well drilled from the Angara spit, 3.5 km from the crest of the structure, and to a total depth of 3,392 metres beneath the lake. Logging, downhole pressure testing and sampling confirmed the presence of moveable oil which has been recovered to surface. Reservoir quality is excellent and the oil is of a similar quality to that encountered in the Mputa and Kingfisher discoveries. 

A deeper 15 metre gross sand was determined to be water wet at this location. These, and other sands, however have the potential to contain oil elsewhere in the Ngassa structure and will be tested through future offshore appraisal drilling.

Wireline log characteristics indicate that the reservoirs seen in Ngassa-2 are equivalent to those encountered in the Kingfisher discovery some 40 km southwest, pointing to significant lateral reservoir extent. This de-risks the down-dip potential, the remaining amplitude-supported prospectivity within the overall Ngassa closure and the neighbouring offshore prospects such as Pelican.

The well has been suspended as an oil producer, for future production testing, thereby completing the current Block 2 exploration programme. Exploration drilling activity is expected to re-commence in late 2009 in Block 1.

Tullow has interests in three licences in the Lake Albert Rift Basin in Uganda. Tullow operates Block 2 with a 100% interest and has a 50% interest in Blocks 1 and 3A which are operated by Heritage Oil (50%).

Commenting today, Angus McCoss, Exploration Director, said:

'The discovery of a significant oil field at Ngassa, with the potential to be the largest in the basin, is a major achievement for Tullow. The follow-up potential in the overall Ngassa closure has been substantially de-risked by this find and we look forward to realising the upside through appraisal and further exploration drilling. We are now focusing on the considerable follow-up to the Buffalo-Giraffe discovery in Block 1, appraisal activities in Block 2 for development planning and timely production from the basin.'

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tullow Oil plc  ([phone]) Angus McCoss Chris Perry James Arnold

Citigate Dewe Rogerson  ([phone])  Martin Jackson George Cazenove

Murray Consultants  ([phone])  Joe Murray  Ed Micheau

Notes to Editors

Tullow is a leading independent oil & gas, exploration and production group, quoted on the London and Irish Stock Exchanges (symbol: TLW) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. The Group has interests in over 85 exploration and production licences across 23 countries and focuses on four core areas: Africa, Europe, South Asia and South America.

In Africa, Tullow has production in Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Congo (Brazzaville) and Equatorial Guinea and two large appraisal and development programmes in Ghana and Uganda. Tullow also has exploration interests in Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, Senegal, Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Madagascar, Namibia and Angola

Tullow's European interests are primarily focused on gas in the UK Southern North Sea where it has significant interests in the Caister-Murdoch System and the Thames area. The company also has interests offshore the Netherlands and Portugal. 

In South Asia, Tullow has exploration and production in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In South America, Tullow has exploration interests in Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname. 

For further information please refer to our website at www.tullowoil.com.

 

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